August 12, 2024

Last month, Mary Rafferty shared plans to retire at the end of the calendar year from her role as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Good Samaritan Foundation. Mary’s leadership and many contributions over the past 23 years have been instrumental in transforming Good Samaritan Hospital through fundraising, which has supported new technologies and facilities as well as the training of the next generation of doctors, nurses and other clinicians. We thank Mary for her amazing leadership and wish her well as she opens this next chapter in her life!

Following thoughtful discussions with the Trustees of the Good Samaritan and Bethesda Foundations over the past several months, and unanimous approval by both Boards, Andy Swallow has been selected to serve as the next President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Good Samaritan Foundation in addition to his current responsibilities as the President and CEO of the Bethesda Foundation. Andy will assume this expanded new role effective January 1, 2025. 

This leadership model will enable TriHealth’s Foundations to take a more holistic, system-wide approach to philanthropy, and our mission-critical work of connecting grateful patients and families with the important needs and causes within our system they choose to support. And, it will allow for greater coordination and enhanced collaboration of fundraising initiatives across the system, but it will not change the core mission and vision of the Good Sam and Bethesda Foundations. So, while Andy will oversee both foundations: 

• TriHealth’s foundations are not merging and will remain separate. As President and CEO, Andy will report directly to the boards of both foundations. The McCullough-Hyde Foundation will continue to be led by Executive Director Tyler Wash, who will collaborate with Andy and our Foundation staffs, to ensure system philanthropic alignment
• The fundamental structure of TriHealth’s Foundations will not change. The Bethesda and Good Samaritan Foundations are separately incorporated and operate under their own by-laws, board governing structures, and most importantly, separate accounting of assets and funds raised. As such, Andy and Good Samaritan Foundation staff will continue to report to the Good Samaritan Foundation Board. 
• The Good Samaritan Foundation will continue to pursue its mission to provide philanthropic support for programs and projects provided by Good Samaritan Hospital and its related entities to improve the health of the community as it has served since its founding in 1986. Among other important causes, this includes securing philanthropic gifts for the Good Samaritan College of Nursing and Health Science and the Good Samaritan Free Health Center.
• This aligned leadership model will allow for greater coordination, improved sharing of resources and greater effectiveness. And, this is not without precedent for our system, as the Bethesda Foundation staff have a long history of supporting various mission-focused organizations and programs within TriHealth, including Hospice of Cincinnati and Fernside, along with providing support services for the McCullough Hyde Foundation.

Since 2011, Andy has provided strong servant leadership as President and CEO of the Bethesda Foundation, the philanthropic partner for Bethesda Hospitals, Hospice of Cincinnati, and Fernside Center for Grieving Children. Under his leadership, the Bethesda Foundation has raised nearly $125 million. This includes securing critical funding for the continued transformation of the Bethesda North Hospital campus, including the Harold and Eugenia Thomas Comprehensive Care Center, the Heart and Vascular Center, and more. 

Wonderful news! May the foundation continue to bring good all over Cincinnati!
Posted by: Libby Dugan on August 18, 2024
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Congratulations, Andy Swallow. Happy retirement, Mary Rafferty! Bright future for the system!
Posted by: Jana Widmeyer on August 13, 2024
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